05 Januari 2015
Armored vehicles of the PLA's Amphibious Mechanised Infantry Division. (photo/Xinhua)
The People's Liberation Army has doubled the size of its Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (AMID) to boost its combat capabilities in the event of a conflict with Taiwan or in the East or South China seas, reports our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily.
The PLA originally had two AMIDs — one in the Nanjing Military Region and another in the Guangzhou Military Region — comprising a total of 26,000-30,000 soldiers. Between 2007 and 2012, Nanjing's 31st Army Group's 86th Motorized Infantry Division and Guangzhou's 41st Army Group's 123rd Mechanized Infantry Division were both reformed into AMIDs, doubling the total personnel to 52,000-60,000.
The four AMIDs will reportedly strengthen China's combat power as they can cooperate with the 20,000 troops from the PLA Marine Corps to conduct landing assault operations. Each AMID has three battle groups and can carry up to 300 amphibious transport vehicles.
The PLA appears to be looking to diversify the capabilities of its amphibious ground forces as opposed to simply fortifying its Marine Corps as a means to strengthen its authority in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, where it is embroiled in a number of territorial disputes.
A Pentagon report on the Chinese military from 2008 noted that the PLA has been increasing the mobility of its troops in the event of a conflict with Taiwan. The idea of boosting amphibious battle capability was raised in the 2014 version of the report, which said that one of the PLA's strategy options is to quickly take over Taiwan before other countries can intervene.
However, not everyone is convinced that the doubling of AMIDs will necessarily pose a bigger concern to Taiwan. Former Republic of China Marine Corps colonel, Yi-Jia Shiah, said AMIDs are fundamentally different to marines and that the threat is not as serious as publicized, though increased cooperation between the two units will have to be closely monitored.
The PLA's AMIDs and Marine Corps have not yet established a joint command system, he said, adding that in a potential conflict with Taiwan, command of the AMID will still belong to its military region to as opposed to the PLA Navy, which controls the Marine Corps.
The AMIDs also have insufficient battle experience on the seas and cannot simply rely on their ZBD-05 amphibious assault vehicles to cut cross the Taiwan Strait, he said, adding that the PLA will still need its Navy's Type 071 Yuzhao class amphibious transport dock and Type 081 landing helicopter dock or amphibious assault ships to carry out a proper landing assault.
The AMID's development is based on "coast-to-coast" warfare such as crossing rivers, lakes and difficult terrain while still maintaining its combat power, he said, while the Marine Corps is focused on "sea-to-land" warfare, which is more concerned with how to project the military's combat power across the seas.
(WantChinaTimes)
05 Januari 2015
PF-15 Gregorio del Pilar (photo : Timawa)
MANILA (PNA) -- Installing a missile system aboard the two Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates in service will greatly boost the Philippine Navy's (PN) deterrence capability aside from boosting the country's credible defense posture.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, PN spokesperson, said that having these long range and potent weapons installed aboard BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) will act as force multipliers for the two ships.
"It will act as force multiplier for us, it will extend our patrolling reach, (the two ships) will no longer have to go there (threatened area) to thwart an aggressor, our missile systems, once in place on our capital ships, (will make intruders think twice about violating Philippine maritime territory), will aid (our) deterrence (capability) and protecting our vast and porous borders," he added.
At present, the two naval vessels are armed with a 76mm Oto Melara main gun, 25mm "Bushmaster" auto cannon at the stern, and a variety of heavy and light machine guns.
Arevalo also said that having missile armament will also provide the PN with the capability to engage aggressors at longer range compared to the reach of naval artillery, which is definitely much shorter.
Earlier, PN vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad said that upgrades for the two Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates includes the installation of modern anti-ship and anti-air missiles.
"Missile armaments (for the Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates) are in the pipeline," he added.
However, Taccad did not elaborate on this plan but said that this is part of the improvements to make the two ships more capable.
The two BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) was acquired last May 2011 while its sister ship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), was bought from the Americans in May 2012.
These weapons will fully transform these vessels into more capable Navy units, Taccad added.
He declined to comment on when these upgrades will take place for security reasons.
"Both vessels are programmed for upgrades in terms of sensors and firepower to revive their original capabilities," the PN earlier said.
Both ships are members of the 11-ship Hamilton class cutters designed and built for the US Coast Guard for heavy weather patrolling during the 1960s.
These ships are the largest in the US Coast Guard service and armed with the 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon and closed-in-weapon systems.
One sister ship, the USCGC Mellon was even fitted with a Harpoon anti-ship missile system during the 1990s.
(PNA)
03 Januari 2015
Jokowi wants RI military to be strongest in the region (photo : indocheatvip)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo set a target on Tuesday to improve the capacity of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and defense industry not only to meet the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) targets, but also to transform it into a force to be reckoned with in the region.
In a bid to improve the country’s obsolete weapons system, the government earlier implemented a plan to realize the military’s MEF blueprint for achieving an independent defense industry by 2024.
Speaking during a meeting with Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP) on Tuesday at the Presidential Office, Jokowi pointed out four main priorities for the country’s defense policy, including efforts to develop the military to become a well-respected force, to reach self-sufficiency in defense equipment, to meet the country’s defensive needs and to make defense policy a part of the comprehensive approach to security.
The President said that the country should no longer depend on imported defense equipment and that efforts (such as bureaucratic reforms) needed to be taken to expedite the transfer of military technology at state-owned defense firms.
“Those [reforms] include measures related to competitiveness and productivity that are designed in such as way that we will be able to partner with such global defense industry players as South Korea, the United States and Western European countries,” Jokowi said.
Obsolete weapons systems have hampered the TNI’s ability to guard Indonesia’s territorial waters from rampant illegal fishing.
The Defense Ministry has recently pledged to spur the development and production of naval weapons by national defense companies in order to help implement Jokowi’s maritime-axis vision. The ministry has also aimed to promote joint cooperation between local and overseas defense firms to give local defense firms essential knowledge and experience that would eventually help them independently produce state-of-the-art armaments for the TNI.
In December 2011, the ministry and South Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) signed a US$1.1 billion contract to manufacture three U-209 diesel-electric submarines. PT PAL’s engineers will be given a chance to take a close look at the construction of the first two submarines at a DSME plant in South Korea before they construct the last one at the PT PAL plant in Surabaya.
In the meeting, Jokowi also wanted defense firms to start working on civilian projects.
“For example, Pindad’s [light-armored] Anoa vehicles should be used for commercial trucks, PAL’s warships can also be used as commercial ships and for fishing, while the DI’s [military transport aircraft] CN295 can also be used for civil defense,” he said.
PT Pindad’s executive director Silmy Karim said his company was ready to produce non-defense equipment, which would not only encourage the country’s defense industry but could also promote economic growth.
“The demands for defense products continue to rise, so we will boost the production of both [defense and non-defense industries],” said Silmy after Tuesday’s meeting.
Other than Anoa, Silmy added, Pindad is also looking into production for rail networks and heavy equipment utilizers.
“The meeting supported the idea that we should optimize the country’s defense production,” Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said.
(The Jakarta Post)
03 Januari 2015
49 meter FAC-M with hull number 491 and detail weapon of hull number 492 (all photos : Myanmar Navy)
Fast Attack Craft Missile 491 and 492 of Myanmar
Myanmar has completed the first two of ten new FAC-M vessels, which besides having weapon system and electronic suite from the Russian-Chinese combination, also incorporates RCS technology much like other main ASEAN naval power such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Malaysia.
One of the most significant development for Myanmar Navy in 2013 was the launching of new FAC (Stealth)(pennant number P 491) which is 49 meter long and armed with 4 x C 802 SSMs and a single AK 630 CIWS. A second ship of this class was completed by end of 2014.
Myanmar Navy planned to build 10 ships of this class.
Kanwa Defense Review, a magazine published by Andrei Pinkov, a military analyst from Canada, said Myanmar's stealth looked very similar to the 500-tonne fast attack craft the PLA Navy turned over to Pakistan in 2012.
The new stealth missile boat will likely carry the C-802 or C-802A like its counterpart in Pakistan, the article said. This demonstrates that China still has strong influence over Myanmar despite the end of the nation's military regime. Islamabad is also negotiating with Beijing to purchase the C-602 missile, according to Kanwa.
Myanmar Navy FAC 491 is armed with 4 C-802 Missile which has a range of 120 km, it is also armed with one Ak-630 CIWS. The Radar and sensor system is unknown.
This Fast Attack Craft (FAC) is similar to Pakistan Navy Azmat class FAC which has a displacement of 500 ton and carries 8 C-802A missile.
(DefenceBd)
03 Januari 2015
Textron AirLand Scorpion ISR/Strike/Trainer one of candidate to replace L-39 aircraft (photo : Textron AirLand)
Air force delays plan for new jet fighters
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is pushing the military to more quickly draft its spending plans for the 2016 fiscal year and submit them within the month.
Air Force commander ACM Treetod Sonjance said the Defence Ministry, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Air Force are expected to prepare their budgets by mid-January.
He said Gen Prayut, who is also head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), wants to see how the armed forces and other military units prioritise their spending.
The Royal Thai Air Force has no plan to procure new fighter jets in the next budget year, ACM Treetod said. It will focus on upgrades and maintenance instead.
Preliminary plans call for upgrades to the air force's fleet of F-5 jets at the Nakhon Sawan-based Wing 4 division. The aircraft have been in service for over 30 years.
A Defence Ministry source said the proposed defence spending is likely to be a little higher than the amount approved in 2015. It is estimated to be around 193 billion to 200 billion baht.
According to the source, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved a defence budget of 192 billion baht, about 550 million baht lower than the proposed 193.49 billion baht.
Of this amount, the Office of the Defence Permanent Secretary received 7.771 billion baht, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters 14.77 billion baht, the Royal Thai Army 95.48 billion baht, the Royal Thai Navy 37.52 billion baht, and the Royal Thai Air Force 35.7 billion baht.
Defence spending for the 2014 fiscal year was estimated at 184 billion baht.
According to the source, the navy is likely to propose the procurement of two to three submarines.
The navy has been vetting submarines from various countries including South Korea, China, Russia and France. South Korea's U-209 model is said to be the least expensive at 11 billion baht apiece.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has backed the submarine purchase in principle, saying he was ready to support the navy's plan to develop its capacity if there was enough money to go around.
The source said the army is likely to propose the procurement of helicopters for general use under a budget of 2.8 billion baht. About 30 UH-1H (Huey) helicopters will be decommissioned. The US-made UH-72 (Lakota) aircraft is said to be on the army's wish list.
The army also has a plan to purchase a transporter aircraft under a budget of 1.25 billion baht. Ukraine's Antonov-30 and Spain's CN-295 are said to be at the top of the list.
Meanwhile, ACM Treetod said an air force committee is working on choosing a new fleet of training aircraft to replace the L-39 model.
The air force has allocated 3.7 billion baht in the 2015 budget to procure a new fleet of training aircraft to replace the L-39 aircraft manufactured by the Czech Republic.
There are three contenders that meet the initial specifications: T-50 aircraft from South Korea, M-346 from Italy; and the Textron Airland Scorpion from the US. The South Korean aircraft is expected to come at the top of the list.
(Bangkok Post)
02 Januari 2015
KMC Komando TNI AD (photo : Liputan6)
Korem 152 Babullah Terima Bantuan Kapal Cepat
Ternate (Antara News) Korem 152 Babullah Ternate, Maluku Utara (Malut), menerima bantuan sat unit Kapal Motor Cepat (KMC) Komando Bantuan yang digunakan untuk operasional di daerah ini.
Kapenrem Mayor Inf Anang Setyoadi mengatakan di Ternate, Jumat, bantuan ini bagian dari program pemerintah untuk menciptakan kedaulatan laut dan keamanan laut dalam rangka poros maritim.
Rupanya program ini bukan hanya isapan jempol semata, dibuktikan dengan dukungan satu unit KMC Komando yang diberikan kepada jajaran Korem 152 Babullah," ujarnya.
Kapenrem mengatakan, keberadaan KMC Komando juga untuk menjaga perairan Malut yang berbatasan langsung dengan negara luar di perairan pasifik, sebab sering terjadi illegal fishing.
KMC Komando diangkut menggunakan KRI Surabaya 591 berlabuh di pelabuhan Ahmad Yani Ternate dan diterima oleh Danrem 152 Babullah Kolonel Inf Agus Arif Fadila,SIP, didampingi Danden Bekang Letkol Cba Reza Purnama dan beberapa pejabat teras Korem 152 Babullah. Selepas serah terima KMC Komando, Danrem melakukan uji coba beberapa manuver, terlihat kapal tersebut sangat gesit bermanuver dan dinyatakan siap untuk membantu tugas pokok Korem 152 Babullah.
Menurutnya, KMC Komando merupakan salah satu master piece buatan putra-putri terbaik Indonesia hasil riset Dislitbang TNI AD dan berbagai pihak dari Universitas Indonesia, dibuat di galangan kapal dalam negeri yang dapat mengangkut 31 orang personel dan 2 ABK serta mempunyai daya jelajah 250 NM (Nautica Mile) dengan kecepatan 45 Knot dan dapat beroperasi di laut, perairan dangkal, rawa, danau dan sungai.
Selain itu, disematkan pula peralatan canggih terbaru baik marine radar, alat komunikasi maupun GPS termodern dikelasnya. KMP Komando juga dilengkapi dengan persenjataan SMB (senapan mesin berat) jenis M2HB Browning kaliber 12,7 mm dengan sistem bidik menggunakan RWCS (Remote Control Weapon System) dilengkapi Optronik Sensor yang didalamnya terdapat LRF (Laser Range Finder).
Sehingga membuat petembak tetap aman mengoperasikan senjata dari dalam kabin menggunakan layar monitor dan Joy Stick interaktif, dapat melakukan tembakan secara efektif walau dalam kegelapan malam berkat teknologi tracking dan locking target.
Kanpenrem menambahkan, KMP Komando yang diberikan kepada jajaran Korem 152 Babullah untuk membantu mobilisasi pergerakan pasukan di wilayah Maluku Utara yang terdiri dari pulau-pulau dipisahkan oleh laut.
Selain itu, KMC Komando merupakan kapal cepat serbu yang dipergunakan untuk memperkuat pertahanan dan keamanan di wilayah perairan di Maluku Utara yang berbatasan langsung dengan negara luar yang kerap terjadi illegal fishing maupun pelanggaran batas yang sering dilakukan kapal asing.
(Antara)
02 Januari 2015
PMC will distributing personal radio units to Marine contingents (photo : blackfive)
MANILA (PNA) To ensure better communications with its ground units, the Philippine Navy (PN) announced that it will be distributing personal role radio units to its Marine contingents starting first quarter of 2015.
"These will be used by Marines primarily for communication in short distances to enable section commanders to react quickly and efficiently to rapidly changing situations, including contact with the enemy, greatly increasing the effectiveness of infantry fire teams," Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad said.
He added that the system is easy to use through its "simple man machine" interface.
Taccad said that the "personal role radio units" is unobtrusive and comfortable to wear yet rugged enough to sustain the harshest environment presented by active front line operations.
"The use of the 'personal role radio units' will greatly enhanced combat effectiveness by providing all informed communications to front line soldiers, replacing traditional methods based on shouting and hand signals," he stressed.
(PNA)
